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Air Pollution Monitoring System to be installed at Golden Temple

Saturday, August 22nd, 2015

A French company will be installing Air pollution monitoring system at Golden Temple to monitor quality of air in and around Golden Temple complex. Though earlier this installation was scheduled to be completed by March 2015, now it will be completed by November this year.

France based company Environment SA has been allotted contract by Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The system to be installed will be in compliance to specifications of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and will be installed by November.

The system will collect real time data around Golden Temple complex. Net cost of this project will be around 1.1 crores, half of which will be shared by Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee and Amritsar Municipal Corporation while other half will be contributed by CPCB.

Many studies by various organizations have pointed out rising air pollution around Golden Temple complex especially due to smoke from coal hearths used by Gold smiths in Guru Bazaar and surrounding areas and vehicular pollution, which have ill effects on building of Harmandir Sahib.

State Government in a reply to High Court regarding rising air pollution around Golden Temple complex has said that it would ensure uninterrupted power supply to commercial establishments around Golden temple so that smoke is not generated from diesel generators. Also, restrictions will be imposed on vehicular traffic so that vehicles aged more than 15 years are not allowed entry in surrounding areas.